Canvas Is In Danger Of Looking Like A Monopoly
The guest author is senior analyst, head of broadband, at media analysis firm Screen Digest, and writes here about Project Canvas…
The BBC’s recent clarifications on its Project Canvas proposal show a platform with the potential to cause an unprecedented shake up of the UK TV business. That said, with the incumbent telco and all but one of the major UK PSBs involved, Canvas might be thought to be doing a good impersonation of a monopoly…
The reaction Canvas has provoked from Sky is testament to the challenge that Canvas could pose to the established order, with the pay TV giant publically criticising the BBC Trust
So what you've taken a long time to say is that Canvas only looks like a monopoly if no-one else decides to partner with it, but there's nothing to stop other telcos, broadcasters etc from joining like Five did recently.
Even Sky could take part and profit, unless Ofcom's suggestion in the pay-TV investigation is correct, and Sky's real aim is market domination rather than building business.